File photo – Jackson Kelly

The McKinleyville Panthers continued to role early in the season with their fourth and fifth wins of the new campaign at the Foothill tournament on Saturday.

After cruising to a 12-2 win over University Prep in their tournament opener on Friday, the impressive Panthers defeated Las Plumas 3-2 and Red Bluff 1-0 to close out the two-day tourney on Saturday.

And senior Jackson Kelly showed us why is one of the top pitchers in the Big 5 with a big performance for the defending Big 5 champs against Red Bluff.

Kelly, who will play at Shoreline Community College in Washington after graduation, threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout against Red Bluff.

“Jackson was Jackson Kelly today,” McKinleyville head coach Mike Dobrec said. “He threw a heck of a game.”

The senior standout struck out nine in the win and threw just 70 pitches over the seven innings.

After exploding for 34 runs in their opening three games, the Panthers found other ways to win on Saturday.

In game one, they jumped out to an early three-run lead and held on down the stretch.

Kolbey Stolpe and Pat Wilson each finished 1-for-3 with an RBI in the win, while Joe Forbes, Joe Tanno and Kelly each was also 1-for-3.

Tanno got the win on the hill, pitching six strong innings.

The impressive sophomore scattered five hits in six innings and struck out eight.

Stolpe threw one inning in relief for the save after Las Plumas put two runs on the board in the sixth.

Hunter Carter would score the only run of the game against Red Bluff, reaching home plate on a passed ball in the fourth inning.

And that would prove to be just enough with Kelly dealing on the mound.

Carper, Forbes and Bryce Sargent each went 1-for-3 at the plate for the Panthers’ only three hits of the game.

“Our defense was solid the whole weekend,” Dobrec said. “And our pitchers stepped up. They went out and competed.”

Next up, the Panthers are scheduled to play a doubleheader against Foothill in their home openers on Thursday, beginning at 1:30 p.m., although with rain forecast it remains to be seen if they will get those games in.